Sacramento police chief outlines Measure U spending

Proposed budget likely will be voted on at June 11 meeting

City officials expect an extra $27 million in sales tax from voter-approved Measure U, with much of that money going to the Sacramento Police Department for public safety.

Chief Sam Somers Jr. told KCRA 3 on Tuesday that the department is slated to get $11.4 million of the funding for fiscal year 2013-14, which will be spent on 40 sworn and 11 civilian officers for increased police presence on the streets.

“We’re looking to focus our restoration on gangs, traffic and patrol so we can be back on top of that," Somers said. "We’re looking to be a little bit smarter by bringing back crime analysis staff.”

He added that forensics jobs will be open to civilians, thereby freeing up officers for patrol.

According to Somers, the sales tax windfall will pay for 65 positions in the next six years.

“When you look at (what) Measure U did, it’s the citizens of Sacramento that did that for us, and I thank them for that," Somers said. "They had the foresight to see they wanted services back.”

However, it’s a long way from getting everything restored. The department has lost 180 positions in the past five years.

Debora Cummings, who is part of the Del Paso Heights Community Association, hopes the City Council will fund anti-gang initiatives such as Ceasefire to help improve the problems in the neighborhood.

“(We have) ongoing gang violence. We have youth and teens out of control. Our school systems are at the wayside. Those need to be cleaned up and repaired,” Cummings said.

The City Council likely will vote on the proposed budget, including funding for Sacramento police, at its June 11 meeting.

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